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Monday, November 29, 2010

You know that feeling when you have found that memorable gift for someone and are so excited about it that you can hardly stand it?

That's how I feel tonight. Why?

It's because I'm thrilled to be hosting the best giveaway my blog has ever done - one of the modular Cast Iron Grate systems from the folks at Craycort!Yes, the grill grate system that I use almost every night! It works on a Big Green Egg, a Weber grill, or just about any standard grill.

This giveaway is just in time for the holidays because we are doing the drawing in time so it should arrive BEFORE Christmas. (Hinthint: Makes a 'grate' Christmas gift! Or, if you already know someone that has one, you could buy them an accessory insert like the chicken throne or pizza stone.)

Tonight I used mine to make a quick dinner of bruschetta, beef tenderloin medallions, and grilled peppers and onions. I took out one of the grids and put in the griddle plate, ridge side up (it also has a flat side).Then I grilled the beef medallions (think of them as 1/2 of a fillet) on skewers over a 450f fire for 2 minutes per side. I also did two skewers of veggies that I had marinated in olive oil and Dizzy Pig Tsunami Spin rub.Meanwhile, I used the griddle plate to make a roasted red pepper bruschetta.

I received my grate from Rolf at Craycort (we are both members of the BBQ Brethren forum) as an early Christmas present last year. Since then I have used it hard core 4-5 times a week. You can see my original review here but here are my updated quick thoughts/experiences.

durability - the cast iron grate is a work horse! It has taken 1 year of heavy (ab)use from me and remains in excellent condition.

strength - it can support a full #12 cast iron dutch oven under heat. I tried that with a different mild steel grate and it began bending during the cook.

variety - the available inserts give you a lot of options. The griddle insert has flat and ridged sides.

functionality - Cast iron grates do deliver a nice sear to meats but there is more to them then that. They act like a heat capacitor, storing up heat energy and then passing it evenly to your food. My personal opinion is that they cook more evenly. I also like that you can add a little wood or more coal by just opening one of the inserts.

maintenance - besides a brief scrub with a wire brush at the beginning of each cook, these are low maintenance. I have only truly cleaned mine once. (Unless you leave your insert out on the table over a damp weekend an it flash rusts......not that I ever did that. But even then, I just had to reseason it. In theory, because I never did that.)

non-stick - The grates came preseasoned and hold their seasoning well.

The Giveaway Prize

One cast iron grid system (the base frame with the grates), one griddle insert, and a handle. The size is the winner's choice because they can fit just about any round grill. They have expanded their line and can cover you all the way from a Smokey Joe to an XL BGE or large Weber.14.5" - Smokey Joes, Medium Egg18.5" - Large Egg, standard Webers22.5" - WSM, Webers26.75" - WeberXL Big Green Egg

How To EnterEach person can receive up to a total of 3 entries as follows:

leave a commentbelow stating which size grate you would want if you win. (NOTE: If you use the "anonymous comment" option, be sure to leave an email or your screen name in the comment so I can contact you if you are the winner. Something like "EggerinFL from the Egg Forum" or "swibirun from the BBQ Brethren forum" is enough.)

Do a Twitter or Facebook post linking to this giveaway post and then leave a separate comment below with the URL of your post.

Mention this giveaway and link to it in a post on your blog. Then leave a separate comment below with the URL of your post.

The Rules

Giveaway entry period begins Monday, November 29th and ends Tuesday, December 14th 2010 at 11:59pm. Drawing will be held Wednesday, December 15th 2010 at 7:oopm (All times are Eastern Time zone).

Comments will be numbered by order received and random.org will generate a random number for the winner.

Limited to residents of the current Craycort markets (including US, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Europe, etc, see their site) unless you wish to pay the extra shipping charges.

I am the final judge regarding any discrepancies, interpretations, grievances, etc about this drawing.

Craycort LLC is sponsoring the prize. They are not responsible for the drawing or the giveaway.

Winner must respond and claim the prize within one week of the winning announcement. If a winner does not claim the prize during the specified time, a reserve winner will be drawn from the original entries.

Employees, Board Members, indentured servants, and family of Nibble Me This are not eligible to enter. That means YOU Alexis! :)

I want to thank Rolf and the folks at Craycort for sponsoring this amazing giveaway. This grate has been my favorite grill accessory and I am so excited about giving it to one of you!

Oh how I wish I could win this for my large BGE. I would not keep it for myself, but pass it along to my husband who is looking for multiple BGE eggsessories this Christmas season. We have been hesitant to buy the BGE CI grate because it doesn't offer the versatility this offers. Even if I don't win, I'll probably just go ahead and buy one.

I've also been perusing the blog before entering and have saved it as a favorite for the recipe ideas alone. Thanks for having such a nice blog.

I have two of the 18.5" units for my Lg BGE's. Use them all the time. I have the inserts as well. I need to get two of the new 14.5" models for my small eggs, would love to win one of them.Capt Frank, egghead forum

Dude, I am so going to enter all three ways. I might even cheat and do both Twitter and Facebook, although my blog already reposts to Facebook automagically.

Since Bubba Ho-Keg already has a cast iron grate, I'd like one for a 22 1/2" Weber kettle. And if I like it as much as I think I will, I will likely go back and refit Bubba Ho-Keg and several other cookers as well.

Ok....so, if by chance I were to win this grill grate...I could have it sent to my daddy for his egg? (that he has no idea how to use to it's fullest potential...still tries to work it like a weber LOL)

I know exactly what you mean about being excited for finding a great gift. This is a great give away Chris, One of the Weber's for me. I'll have to go out and measure. I'd do it right now but it's pitch black out and the coyote's might get me.

Wow I'm blown away by this. I was looking to order a cast iron xl grate for my daughter as a Christmas present and then you posted this on the bge forum and now I'm in a quandry because I want this for my grill. Maybe if I win it, I'll give her mine and keep this one but that would make me a bah humbug and not in the spirit of the season. Well guess i would have to give her the one I won and buy another for our grill. Does the xl come with a griddle? I didn't see where i could order it. (vohsmk@yahoo.com)

As always, wonderful pics Chris!! If I won the giveaway, I would gift the grates to my dad who has a large BGE. He and I share a passion for grilling and he just started a competition BBQ team in SC called "North South Smokers". He would get a ton of use out of the grates as he is a serial griller!!!

I'm in, those grill marks are amazing! Love my cast Iron cookware and really want some for my 22.5 webers, but they are pricey! This could be my lucky break...This is Jesse from the bbq brethren forum (Smokin'hoglegs)Pippen4prez@yahoo.com

You're going to come over and help me cook a fantastic meal with it, right? Hubs does all the grilling, he would love, love, love this. No clue on the size, I'm guessing the 18 or 22. The food in the picture looks amazing. Mine would turn out that way with this, right?? :-) Thanks!